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Ocklawaha River below Kirkpatrick Dam (in NAVD88)

Highest listed crest 9.70 ftFlood stage 5.0 ft164 crests since 1968

The Ocklawaha River below Kirkpatrick Dam (in NAVD88) crested at major flood stage 16 times among the 164 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1968 to 2026. The highest, 9.70 ft on September 13, 2017, was major flooding, 4.70 feet above flood stage. 3 other gauges on the Ocklawaha River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 3 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
9.70 ft
September 13, 2017; 16,900 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
5.0 ft
Major flooding from 7.0 ft
Crests at major
16
7th of 237 gauges in Florida
Most recent flood crest
October 9, 2026
6.09 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Putnam County
Near Palatka (12.6 mi)

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Ocklawaha River below Kirkpatrick Dam (in NAVD88)
Action stage4.016Dec 21, 2013The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)5.091Oct 26, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage6.041Oct 9, 2026Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage7.016Oct 14, 2024Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

164 crests from 1968 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Ocklawaha River below Kirkpatrick Dam (in NAVD88), 1968 to 2026 46810ft Flood stage 5.0 ftMajor 7.0 ft Oct 23, 1968: 7.49 ft, major flooding; 7,000 cubic feet per secondOct 3, 1969: 5.99 ft, minor flooding; 4,320 cubic feet per secondNov 5, 1969: 5.87 ft, minor flooding; 3,960 cubic feet per secondDec 13, 1969: 6.26 ft, moderate flooding; 4,750 cubic feet per secondJan 9, 1970: 6.63 ft, moderate flooding; 5,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 5, 1970: 8.35 ft, major flooding; 9,560 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1970: 7.71 ft, major flooding; 8,300 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 1970: 5.60 ft, minor flooding; 4,320 cubic feet per secondAug 22, 1970: 5.64 ft, minor flooding; 4,100 cubic feet per secondDec 4, 1970: 4.94 ft, action stage; 2,450 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 1971: 5.18 ft, minor flooding; 3,150 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1971: 5.08 ft, minor flooding; 3,210 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1972: 4.96 ft, action stage; 2,870 cubic feet per secondDec 23, 1972: 5.18 ft, minor flooding; 3,230 cubic feet per secondFeb 15, 1973: 5.10 ft, minor flooding; 2,730 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 1973: 5.20 ft, minor flooding; 2,660 cubic feet per secondSep 20, 1973: 4.99 ft, action stage; 2,590 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 1974: 6.27 ft, moderate flooding; 4,510 cubic feet per secondAug 9, 1974: 6.04 ft, moderate flooding; 4,260 cubic feet per secondSep 9, 1974: 5.50 ft, minor flooding; 3,430 cubic feet per secondJan 4, 1975: 4.95 ft, action stage; 2,560 cubic feet per secondSep 22, 1975: 5.08 ft, minor flooding; 2,900 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 1976: 5.11 ft, minor flooding; 2,770 cubic feet per secondDec 17, 1976: 4.97 ft, action stage; 2,370 cubic feet per secondJan 8, 1977: 5.17 ft, minor flooding; 2,700 cubic feet per secondJan 27, 1978: 5.12 ft, minor flooding; 2,390 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1978: 6.53 ft, moderate flooding; 4,710 cubic feet per secondAug 4, 1978: 6.30 ft, moderate flooding; 4,590 cubic feet per secondFeb 27, 1979: 4.95 ft, action stage; 2,440 cubic feet per secondMay 14, 1979: 5.97 ft, minor flooding; 4,020 cubic feet per secondSep 27, 1979: 7.97 ft, major flooding; 8,530 cubic feet per secondJan 28, 1980: 5.69 ft, minor flooding; 4,170 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 1980: 5.44 ft, minor flooding; 3,340 cubic feet per secondApr 12, 1982: 8.53 ft, major flooding; 8,610 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1982: 7.35 ft, major flooding; 7,020 cubic feet per secondJul 30, 1982: 6.30 ft, moderate flooding; 4,350 cubic feet per secondSep 14, 1982: 6.16 ft, moderate flooding; 4,210 cubic feet per secondOct 7, 1982: 5.70 ft, minor flooding; 3,390 cubic feet per secondFeb 24, 1983: 6.02 ft, moderate flooding; 4,230 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1983: 5.80 ft, minor flooding; 3,660 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 1983: 6.32 ft, moderate flooding; 4,560 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1983: 5.55 ft, minor flooding; 3,700 cubic feet per secondJul 7, 1983: 5.65 ft, minor flooding; 4,010 cubic feet per secondSep 6, 1983: 5.46 ft, minor flooding; 3,430 cubic feet per secondJan 5, 1984: 6.04 ft, moderate flooding; 3,970 cubic feet per secondFeb 29, 1984: 6.21 ft, moderate flooding; 4,210 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1984: 6.54 ft, moderate flooding; 5,110 cubic feet per secondJul 4, 1984: 5.01 ft, minor flooding; 2,460 cubic feet per secondAug 4, 1984: 5.39 ft, minor flooding; 3,180 cubic feet per secondSep 29, 1984: 5.14 ft, minor flooding; 2,580 cubic feet per secondSep 2, 1985: 5.27 ft, minor flooding; 2,860 cubic feet per secondJan 17, 1986: 5.11 ft, minor flooding; 2,810 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1986: 5.82 ft, minor flooding; 4,130 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1987: 7.75 ft, major flooding; 7,580 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1988: 5.85 ft, minor flooding; 4,200 cubic feet per secondSep 7, 1988: 6.91 ft, moderate flooding; 5,200 cubic feet per secondNov 24, 1988: 5.48 ft, minor flooding; 3,460 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 1991: 6.03 ft, moderate flooding; 4,030 cubic feet per secondJul 2, 1991: 5.41 ft, minor flooding; 3,110 cubic feet per secondDec 9, 1991: 4.85 ft, action stage; 2,100 cubic feet per secondOct 8, 1992: 5.14 ft, minor flooding; 2,620 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1993: 5.36 ft, minor flooding; 2,450 cubic feet per secondSep 26, 1994: 5.68 ft, minor flooding; 3,440 cubic feet per secondNov 17, 1994: 5.53 ft, minor flooding; 3,240 cubic feet per secondDec 15, 1994: 5.61 ft, minor flooding; 3,510 cubic feet per secondJan 19, 1995: 5.55 ft, minor flooding; 3,630 cubic feet per secondAug 30, 1995: 5.60 ft, minor flooding; 3,420 cubic feet per secondOct 15, 1995: 5.69 ft, minor flooding; 4,190 cubic feet per secondJan 16, 1996: 5.45 ft, minor flooding; 3,430 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1996: 5.58 ft, minor flooding; 3,850 cubic feet per secondMay 25, 1996: 5.77 ft, minor flooding; 5,730 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 1996: 5.29 ft, minor flooding; 3,730 cubic feet per secondDec 31, 1997: 6.20 ft, moderate flooding; 5,460 cubic feet per secondFeb 24, 1998: 7.35 ft, major flooding; 7,530 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1998: 6.99 ft, moderate flooding; 6,740 cubic feet per secondSep 23, 1998: 5.01 ft, minor flooding; 3,250 cubic feet per secondOct 6, 1998: 4.84 ft, action stage; 2,910 cubic feet per secondSep 15, 2001: 6.40 ft, moderate flooding; 3,910 cubic feet per secondSep 26, 2002: 4.89 ft, action stage; 3,130 cubic feet per secondJan 7, 2003: 5.09 ft, minor flooding; 2,740 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 2003: 6.34 ft, moderate flooding; 5,670 cubic feet per secondAug 12, 2003: 5.45 ft, minor flooding; 3,670 cubic feet per secondSep 10, 2004: 8.40 ft, major flooding; 9,330 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 2004: 7.25 ft, major flooding; 6,120 cubic feet per secondNov 10, 2004: 6.32 ft, moderate flooding; 3,020 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 2005: 5.64 ft, minor flooding; 3,620 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 2005: 6.25 ft, moderate flooding; 4,500 cubic feet per secondSep 9, 2005: 5.17 ft, minor flooding; 2,730 cubic feet per secondDec 20, 2005: 5.10 ft, minor flooding; 2,960 cubic feet per secondFeb 13, 2006: 5.67 ft, minor flooding; 4,000 cubic feet per secondSep 25, 2007: 4.78 ft, action stage; 2,130 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 2007: 4.52 ft, action stage; 1,870 cubic feet per secondAug 26, 2008: 7.47 ft, major flooding; 6,970 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 2009: 6.51 ft, moderate flooding; 4,820 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 2010: 4.66 ft, action stage; 2,350 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 2010: 5.35 ft, minor flooding; 3,420 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 2010: 4.91 ft, action stage; 2,810 cubic feet per secondJul 9, 2010: 4.60 ft, action stage; 2,440 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 2012: 4.99 ft, action stage; 2,600 cubic feet per secondAug 26, 2012: 5.26 ft, minor flooding; 3,430 cubic feet per secondDec 21, 2013: 4.72 ft, action stage; 2,470 cubic feet per secondSep 2, 2015: 5.12 ft, minor flooding; 3,220 cubic feet per secondSep 20, 2015: 5.20 ft, minor flooding; 3,180 cubic feet per secondSep 13, 2017: 9.70 ft, major flooding; 16,900 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 2017: 6.64 ft, moderate flooding; 5,200 cubic feet per secondOct 21, 2017: 5.81 ft, minor flooding; 4,100 cubic feet per secondNov 6, 2017: 5.13 ft, minor flooding; 3,060 cubic feet per secondDec 7, 2017: 5.16 ft, minor flooding; 3,020 cubic feet per secondApr 12, 2018: 5.74 ft, minor flooding; 4,820 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 2018: 5.84 ft, minor flooding; 4,840 cubic feet per secondJul 7, 2018: 5.73 ft, minor flooding; 4,430 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 2018: 6.01 ft, moderate flooding; 5,070 cubic feet per secondJul 30, 2018: 6.17 ft, moderate flooding; 5,500 cubic feet per secondAug 9, 2018: 5.93 ft, minor flooding; 4,830 cubic feet per secondSep 7, 2018: 5.43 ft, minor flooding; 3,790 cubic feet per secondDec 22, 2018: 7.36 ft, major flooding; 5,730 cubic feet per secondFeb 2, 2019: 6.49 ft, moderate flooding; 4,050 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 2019: 5.53 ft, minor flooding; 2,560 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 2019: 5.05 ft, minor floodingJul 5, 2019: 5.04 ft, minor floodingAug 1, 2019: 5.89 ft, minor floodingAug 20, 2019: 5.69 ft, minor floodingSep 5, 2019: 6.28 ft, moderate floodingOct 9, 2019: 5.83 ft, minor floodingOct 25, 2019: 5.58 ft, minor floodingNov 3, 2019: 5.13 ft, minor floodingNov 15, 2019: 5.12 ft, minor floodingDec 27, 2019: 5.99 ft, minor floodingJun 13, 2020: 6.57 ft, moderate floodingAug 24, 2020: 6.03 ft, moderate floodingSep 24, 2020: 6.67 ft, moderate floodingOct 11, 2020: 5.67 ft, minor floodingOct 25, 2020: 5.63 ft, minor floodingNov 13, 2020: 5.48 ft, minor floodingDec 2, 2020: 5.95 ft, minor floodingFeb 19, 2021: 5.95 ft, minor floodingApr 22, 2021: 6.82 ft, moderate floodingJun 30, 2021: 5.83 ft, minor floodingJul 7, 2021: 7.55 ft, major floodingAug 14, 2021: 6.16 ft, moderate floodingSep 26, 2021: 6.99 ft, moderate floodingOct 28, 2021: 5.05 ft, minor floodingMar 14, 2022: 5.84 ft, minor floodingApr 14, 2022: 5.79 ft, minor floodingJul 23, 2022: 5.68 ft, minor floodingSep 10, 2022: 5.87 ft, minor floodingSep 29, 2022: 8.67 ft, major floodingOct 13, 2022: 6.00 ft, moderate floodingNov 16, 2022: 6.00 ft, moderate floodingDec 15, 2022: 5.33 ft, minor floodingJun 24, 2023: 5.13 ft, minor floodingJul 25, 2023: 5.09 ft, minor floodingOct 15, 2023: 5.54 ft, minor floodingNov 26, 2023: 5.25 ft, minor floodingDec 24, 2023: 6.26 ft, moderate floodingJan 21, 2024: 6.15 ft, moderate floodingAug 9, 2024: 6.62 ft, moderate floodingSep 14, 2024: 6.68 ft, moderate floodingSep 25, 2024: 6.49 ft, moderate floodingOct 14, 2024: 9.01 ft, major floodingNov 14, 2024: 5.90 ft, minor floodingJul 19, 2025: 5.30 ft, minor floodingOct 26, 2025: 5.19 ft, minor floodingOct 9, 2026: 6.09 ft, moderate flooding Highest, 9.70 ft, Sep 13, 2017 197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Ocklawaha River below Kirkpatrick Dam (in NAVD88) 1960s: 4 1970s: 21 1980s: 26 1990s: 18 2000s: 14 2010s: 29 2020s: 36 36 1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

The 50 highest of 164 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Ocklawaha River below Kirkpatrick Dam (in NAVD88)
1Sep 13, 20179.70+4.70Major16,900
2Oct 14, 20249.01+4.01Major—
3Sep 29, 20228.67+3.67Major—
4Apr 12, 19828.53+3.53Major8,610
5Sep 10, 20048.40+3.40Major9,330
6Feb 5, 19708.35+3.35Major9,560
7Sep 27, 19797.97+2.97Major8,530
8Mar 31, 19877.75+2.75Major7,580
9Apr 7, 19707.71+2.71Major8,300
10Jul 7, 20217.55+2.55Major—
11Oct 23, 19687.49+2.49Major7,000
12Aug 26, 20087.47+2.47Major6,970
13Dec 22, 20187.36+2.36Major5,730
14Jun 23, 19827.35+2.35Major7,020
15Feb 24, 19987.35+2.35Major7,530
16Oct 1, 20047.25+2.25Major6,120
17Mar 20, 19986.99+1.99Moderate6,740
18Sep 26, 20216.99+1.99Moderate—
19Sep 7, 19886.91+1.91Moderate5,200
20Apr 22, 20216.82+1.82Moderate—
21Sep 14, 20246.68+1.68Moderate—
22Sep 24, 20206.67+1.67Moderate—
23Oct 1, 20176.64+1.64Moderate5,200
24Jan 9, 19706.63+1.63Moderate5,400
25Aug 9, 20246.62+1.62Moderate—
26Jun 13, 20206.57+1.57Moderate—
27Apr 6, 19846.54+1.54Moderate5,110
28Mar 6, 19786.53+1.53Moderate4,710
29May 28, 20096.51+1.51Moderate4,820
30Feb 2, 20196.49+1.49Moderate4,050
31Sep 25, 20246.49+1.49Moderate—
32Sep 15, 20016.40+1.40Moderate3,910
33Mar 13, 20036.34+1.34Moderate5,670
34Apr 25, 19836.32+1.32Moderate4,560
35Nov 10, 20046.32+1.32Moderate3,020
36Aug 4, 19786.30+1.30Moderate4,590
37Jul 30, 19826.30+1.30Moderate4,350
38Sep 5, 20196.28+1.28Moderate—
39Jul 5, 19746.27+1.27Moderate4,510
40Dec 13, 19696.26+1.26Moderate4,750
41Dec 24, 20236.26+1.26Moderate—
42Jul 5, 20056.25+1.25Moderate4,500
43Feb 29, 19846.21+1.21Moderate4,210
44Dec 31, 19976.20+1.20Moderate5,460
45Jul 30, 20186.17+1.17Moderate5,500
46Sep 14, 19826.16+1.16Moderate4,210
47Aug 14, 20216.16+1.16Moderate—
48Jan 21, 20246.15+1.15Moderate—
49Oct 9, 20266.09+1.09Moderate—
50Aug 9, 19746.04+1.04Moderate4,260

The worst floods along the Ocklawaha River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Ocklawaha River that crested above flood stage within a week.

September 13, 2017: 9.70 ft here, major flooding

  • OcalaFL · Sep 11, 2017 · 41.31 ft · Major · its highest
  • ConnerFL · Sep 11, 2017 · 40.07 ft · Major · its highest
  • EurekaFL · Sep 13, 2017 · 25.49 ft · Major · its highest

October 14, 2024: 9.01 ft here, major flooding

  • Moss Bluff DamFL · Oct 10, 2024 · 46.85 ft · Major · its highest
  • EurekaFL · Oct 11, 2024 · 25.37 ft · Major
  • OcalaFL · Oct 10, 2024 · 40.44 ft · Moderate
  • ConnerFL · Oct 10, 2024 · 39.32 ft · Moderate

September 29, 2022: 8.67 ft here, major flooding

  • Moss Bluff DamFL · Sep 30, 2022 · 45.69 ft · Moderate
  • OcalaFL · Sep 30, 2022 · 39.17 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Ocklawaha River

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the Ocklawaha River
Moss Bluff DamFL44.046.85 ft, Oct 10, 20241
OcalaFL39.041.31 ft, Sep 11, 20173
ConnerFL38.040.07 ft, Sep 11, 20172
EurekaFL22.025.49 ft, Sep 13, 20179
Kirkpatrick Dam (in NAVD88) this gaugeFL5.09.70 ft, Sep 13, 201716

Other gauges in Putnam County

Flood gauges in Putnam County
Crescent Lake at Crescent City (in NAVD88)1.82.15 ft, Oct 10, 20260
Dunns Creek State Park Boat Ramp (in MHHW)1.52.29 ft, Oct 12, 20250
Satsuma (in MHHW)1.53.73 ft, Sep 29, 20226
Georgetown (in NAVD88)2.03.01 ft, Oct 16, 20240
Welaka (in MHHW)1.52.00 ft, Oct 10, 20260
Buffalo Bluff (in MHHW)1.53.36 ft, Sep 29, 20223

Putnam County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Florida

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge RODF1, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.